Six Months of Chaos: A Survivorโ€™s Milestone

[Signal detectedโ€ฆ]

Six months ago, I started this little corner of chaos thinking Iโ€™d maybe post a few survival stories, get a handful of clicks, and quietly freeze to death somewhere in The Long Dark. Back then, it was just me, a Nintendo Switch, and the idea of documenting how many ways I could die before breakfast.

Since then, the blogโ€™s grown far beyond what I expected โ€” from Switch survival diaries to Steam Deck expeditions, from small guides to full-blown playthroughs and embracing chaos. And somehow, itโ€™s still alive โ€” which feels like a small miracle, considering most blogs donโ€™t make it past the first few months. Hundreds of clicks, countless laughs, and a few subscribers later, Iโ€™m still here โ€” fuelled by caffeine and questionable decisions.

So first and foremost โ€” thank you. Whether youโ€™ve clicked, read, liked, shared, or just wandered in wondering how someone can die to a rabbit, I appreciate every single bit of support.

Transmission #0 โ€“ Reverse Voice Reveal

To mark the occasion, I decided to put together a short video. Some of you mightโ€™ve thought this would finally be my voice reveal. To that I sayโ€ฆ really?

A brief burst of static, gratitude, and one very loud Godpigeon scream. Full credit, of course, to the brilliant Animaniacs team for that glorious noise.

Fuel for the Generator

Iโ€™ve also quietly launched a Ko-fi page โ€” emphasis on quietly. I didnโ€™t make a big announcement about it because I didnโ€™t want it to feel like a sales pitch. Everything I create will always stay free to read and free to enjoy. Thatโ€™s a promise.

I know times are tough and not everyone can spare a few pounds โ€” and thatโ€™s perfectly fine. Your clicks, comments, and time already mean more than enough. The Ko-fi page is just there for anyone who genuinely wants to toss a tip into the mug to help keep the coffee flowing and the generator humming. Please donโ€™t go overboard; keep the lights on at home first.

Down the line, I might look at adding a few ads on the blog or YouTube channel, but Iโ€™ll do my best to keep them minimal and non-intrusive. Iโ€™d rather focus on sharing stories and surviving the next storm than filling screens with banners and pop-ups.

Looking Ahead

Thereโ€™s still a lot left to explore โ€” new games, new disasters, same portable chaos. Iโ€™m excited (and mildly terrified) to see what the next six months bring.

So hereโ€™s to six months of frostbite, fuel shortages, and unexpected victories โ€” and hereโ€™s to making it a full year of portable chaos. Thank you for being part of this weird, wonderful journey.

[Transmission terminated. Coffee levels: critical.]

Featured post

๐Ÿ“Œ For New Survivors: Start Here

Welcome to Survivor Incognito! This is where survival games meet chaos, comedy, and a healthy disregard for difficulty settings.

If you’re new here and wondering what this blog is all about, hereโ€™s a quick guide to help you dive in:


๐ŸŽฎ Why I Play on Easier Difficulties

Think playing on easy makes survival games easy? Iโ€™m living proof it doesnโ€™t. ๐Ÿ‘‰ Surviving, Not Suffering: Why I Choose Easier Difficulties


โ„๏ธ The Long Dark Must-Reads

๐Ÿ—บ The Long Dark Complete Region & Transition Zone Survival Guide

โ„๏ธ Customloper Diaries

๐Ÿ“† Survive Your First Week in The Long Dark


๐Ÿงช Permadeath, But Make It Funny

๐Ÿ•ท The Backyard Trials: Grounded Permadeath

๐Ÿน Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival

๐Ÿšข Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival


๐Ÿšš Coming Soon

SnowRunner Survival: The Permagear Diaries Main Hub

Sunburnt & Sinking: A Stranded Deep Survival Diary


๐Ÿ’ฌ Bonus Reading

๐Ÿ‘‰ About Me

๐Ÿ‘‰ The Long Dark Customloper Settings: Easier Interloper Survival Mode

๐Ÿ‘‰ FAQ


Thanks for joining the mayhem. Surviving is optional. Storytelling the downfall? Mandatory

Featured post

Welcome New Survivors

Just a quick post today to say a big welcome to everyone whoโ€™s recently stumbled into the chaos of Survivor Incognito. Whether you came for the haunted fish, the frozen lakes, or the exploding oak tree, Iโ€™m glad youโ€™re here.

If youโ€™re new, here are a few good places to start:

  • ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ Check out the Long Dark Region Guide if you’re planning a cold-weather disaster of your own.
  • ๐ŸŸ Dark Waters is nearing its eerie conclusion โ€” perfect if you like your survival stories with a side of cosmic dread.
  • โ„๏ธ The Customloper Diaries are still going strong โ€” Interloper-lite, full-on panic.

This week marks the end of the Grounded permadeath run โ€” the backyard won, basically. But starting next week, weโ€™re trading bugs for busted axles with the debut of SnowRunner: The Permagear Diaries. Expect mud, ice, and a lot of โ€œwell that truckโ€™s gone nowโ€ moments.

Thanks for reading โ€” and remember: surviving is optional. Storytelling the downfall is the point.

Oh โ€” and if you think playing on easier difficulties makes survival games easy? It doesnโ€™t. Iโ€™m living proof that you can still freeze, starve, drown, fall off cliffs, and get stomped by wildlife with the difficulty slider turned all the way down. Turns out survival isnโ€™t just about the settings โ€” itโ€™s about the decisions. And mine are… letโ€™s say โ€œnarratively interesting.โ€

Featured post

Survivorโ€™s Shorts Are Live โ€“ Because Chaos Deserves Its Own Page

Survivorโ€™s Shorts is now live! A new page on the blog featuring my funniest, strangest, and most disastrous survival momentsโ€”bite-sized stories, full-sized regret.


Sometimes a moment in a survival game doesnโ€™t need a full playthrough postโ€”it just needs a spotlight, a raised eyebrow, and maybe a bandage.

Thatโ€™s where Survivorโ€™s Shorts comes in.

Itโ€™s a new page on the blog dedicated to the little disasters. The sudden bear charges. The pancake heartbreaks. The moose lurking behind trees. All real stories from my permadeath runs, trimmed down and served with a side of sarcasm.

If youโ€™ve ever screamed when you meant to crouch or felt betrayed by a breakfast item, youโ€™ll feel right at home.

What You’ll Find There

The Pancake Betrayal โ€“ Found the recipe. Found the syrup. Got betrayed by Cooking Level 4.

There is more coming soon. But here is what to expect for ones that are being drafted:

The Wolf That Interrupted My Mapping Session โ€“ Cartography meets carnivore.

The Moose Behind the Tree โ€“ A 5% spawn rate that showed up at 100% volume.

The Doedicurus That Broke My Spirit โ€“ One spear. No hits. Lots of tail.

The One-Shot Wonder โ€“ A bear, a rifle, and a moment of absolute panicโ€ฆ that somehow worked.


And plenty more moments coming soon.

Check it Out Here:

Survivorโ€™s Shorts

Got a favourite chaotic moment?

Let me know in the comments or tag me on socialโ€”I’m always looking for new disasters to celebrate.
And if you enjoy these shorts, consider sharing the page with a fellow survivor.
Because nothing says โ€œfriendshipโ€ like a moose silently judging you from behind a tree.

Featured post

Cold-Blooded: A Skyrim Survival Diary โ€“ Log 3: Gold Problems and an Unwanted Destiny

Cold-Blooded โ€“ Log 3: Gold Problems and an Unwanted Destiny

Game: Skyrim Special Edition
Mode: Survival Mode
Difficulty: Adept
Survivor: Treads-Through-Cold (Argonian)

Gold doesnโ€™t solve every problem. But right now, it would solve most of mine.

Money is becoming a recurring issue. Spells cost gold. Food costs gold. Staying alive costs gold.

With that in mind, I checked the local inn in Riverwood for work. They had a bounty available and pointed me toward a few other opportunities. None of them sounded safe. All of them sounded necessary.

I added everything to the list.

Cold-Blooded โ€“ Log 3 (No Commentary)

Full gameplay footage from Riverwood to Whiterun, including the Western Watchtower dragon fight.

The Road to Whiterun

On the way to Whiterun, I spotted a fight in progress. A giant. Several people. A lot of shouting.

I hadnโ€™t decided who to help by the time the giant was already dead.

That earned me a mild scolding for not joining in sooner. Turns out the group were the Companions. They take jobs. Dangerous ones. For gold.

I made a mental note. I may need them.

As they left, I noticed something else. Crops. A lot of crops. Vegetables everywhere. Unattended. Unclaimed. No warnings. No angry NPC dialogue.

I harvested all of it.

I then walked past the farmer who owned those crops.

Heโ€™s in for a surprise.

Whiterun Business

Once inside Whiterun, I went straight to the inn. More work was available. One job stood out.

I was asked to retrieve something called Nettlebane.

I donโ€™t know what it is. I donโ€™t know if itโ€™s a weapon. But it sounds valuable enough to investigate.

From there, I spoke to the Jarl.

He asked if I could help his court wizard, Farengar. I handed over the Dragonstone. Apparently, Iโ€™d already done the hard part.

As a reward, the Jarl offered me the chance to buy a house in Whiterun.

Buy being the key word.

The Western Watchtower

A dragon had been sighted at the Western Watchtower.

I was asked if I could help.

I agreed, reluctantly.

The dragon stayed just out of spell range most of the fight. When I could hit it, I did. When I couldnโ€™t, I waited and tried not to die.

I need better spells. That means gold. Farengar already suggested Winterhold.

No.

  1. Iโ€™m an Argonian.
  2. The clue is in the name: Winterhold.

An Unexpected Title

The dragon fell.

I took what I could from it. Then I absorbed its soul.

A Whiterun guard called me Dragonborn.

I donโ€™t know what that means.

But Iโ€™m confident theyโ€™ve got the wrong Argonian.

Continue the journey:
Cold-Blooded โ€“ Log 2: Bleak Falls and Poor Attitudes |
Cold-Blooded โ€“ Log 4: Gold, Guards, and Bad Ideas

Super Mario 64 Randomizer โ€“ Log 12: Every Door Is a Trick

Super Mario 64 Randomizer โ€“ Log 12: Every Door Is a Trick

Progress: 60 Stars Reached
Platform: Steam Deck
Settings: Vanilla Mario & Music

โ€œThe castle is technically helping. Itโ€™s just doing it in the worst possible way.โ€

I set off with a clear goal: the Snowmanโ€™s Land door.

On the way, I try the Tiny-Huge Island painting. Still locked. Still mocking me.

Back to Snowmanโ€™s Land. I open the door, jump in, and immediately realise somethingโ€™s wrong.

Behind the painting is Dire Dire Docks.

At this point, Iโ€™ve stopped being surprised.

Dire Dire Docks: Progress, Eventually

I start with the chests. I get distracted by coins almost instantly, then remember why Iโ€™m here.

Most of the chests are grouped together, which makes this far easier than expected. One is awkward, but manageable.

Next up: the Manta Ray.

I miss rings in ways that feel intentional. Bad angles. Poor timing. Repeated failure.

Eventually, I abandon the attempt and swim into the other area of the docks.

Bowserโ€™s submarine isnโ€™t there. Heโ€™s clearly moved on.

That at least makes grabbing stars painless.

Stars, Water, and Poor Decisions

With the sub gone, I clean up:

  • A floating water star
  • The Jet Stream star

I give the Manta Ray another go. This time it works immediately, because of course it does.

That pushes me to 60 stars. Halfway through the run.

Only two stars remain here:

  • Red Coin Star
  • 100-Coin Star

I decide to clear them while Iโ€™m here.

The water has other ideas and ejects me straight out of the level and into the castle pond.

I take the hint.

The Basement: Nothing Is Where It Should Be

I head downstairs.

First job: MIPS. No trouble at all.

Next up is the entrance that should be familiar by now.

Instead of what I expect, I get Jolly Roger Bay.

The randomizer is clearly enjoying itself.

One chest is placed somewhere deeply inconvenient. I find two in the cave, not four.

The missing one stays hidden, but thereโ€™s a star nearby, so itโ€™s not a total loss.

I move on to Plunder in the Sunken Ship.

I almost die twice trying to coax the eel out without getting electrocuted. Eventually, it behaves.

Log 12 Status

  • Total Stars: 60
  • Dire Dire Docks: 5 / 7 stars complete
  • Jolly Roger Bay: 3 stars collected
  • Wing Cap: Still missing

The castle keeps opening up. Progress is real. Directions are optional.

YouTube โ€“ Log 12 Video

Sixty stars in. Still grounded.

Continue the Journey

Previous Log | Next Log

Super Mario 64 Randomizer Hub

Game: Super Mario 64

10,000 Views โ€” Thank You

Somehow, the chaos is adding up.

Today, Survivor Incognito passed 10,000 total views.
For a niche survival blog built on permadeath runs, structured guides, and a refusal to chase trends,
that genuinely means a lot.

This entire project โ€” every diary entry, guide, map, rule, and redesign โ€” has been built and written by one person.
No team. No outsourcing. Just steady work and structured chaos.

What started as chaotic diary entries on Nintendo Switch has grown into something more deliberate:
a connected system of hubs, roadmaps, maps, and rules โ€” now running across Switch and Steam Deck.

The foundation is stronger than ever.
More worlds. More rules. More structured chaos.

Thank you for reading โ€” even if youโ€™ve only stopped by once.
Iโ€™m keeping this going.

Survivor’s Log: Subnautica Site Update

Iโ€™ve finally gotten round to a couple of long-overdue Subnautica jobs โ€” the kind that make the site easier to use and stop everything from drifting into chaos.

First, thereโ€™s now a proper Subnautica Hub. One place to collect everything Subnautica-related โ€” logs, guides, maps, and future posts โ€” without needing to hunt through tags or old links.

Subnautica Hub:

Subnautica Hub


Second, Iโ€™ve built a Subnautica Crafting Reference page. This isnโ€™t a lore dump or a wiki replacement โ€” itโ€™s a practical, at-a-glance list of what you need to craft things, grouped by crafting device and built to be useful while youโ€™re actually playing.

Subnautica Crafting Reference:

Subnautica Crafting Reference Guide


Both pages exist for the same reason: less friction, less tab-hopping, and more time actually surviving underwater.

More Subnautica updates soon โ€” now that the foundations are finally in place.

Unprepared: An Interloper Survival Diary in The Long Dark Log #5 โ€“ Day 10: Quiet Before the Teeth

Unprepared Log 10: Quiet Before the Teeth

Difficulty: Interloper
Region: Mystery Lake
Survivor: Will

Thankfully the recording survived. The wolves did too. Probably.

Thankfully the recording for this and the next log didnโ€™t get corrupted, so I can actually prove I made it through the day.
With a heavy hammer sitting safely in Trapperโ€™s Homestead, thatโ€™s one major goal off the list.

Next goal: find a firestriker or a magnifying glass.
Iโ€™m tired of living match-to-match like some kind of frozen Victorian chimney sweep.

Charcoal, Caches, and the Bow Clock Ticking

A quick use of charcoal showed I was close to a memento cache.
I had no clue where it actually was, so I did what I always do when Iโ€™m unsure: wander deeper into the region and hope it becomes Future Meโ€™s problem.

The wandering at least had value. I found a bunch of birch saplings and hauled them back toward Trapperโ€™s for curing.
The bow phase is coming whether Iโ€™m ready or not, and Iโ€™d rather not arrive there with the survival equivalent of empty pockets and false confidence.

Hunterโ€™s Blind: A Win With a Catch

I checked the nearby hunterโ€™s blind and finally got a win: a firestriker.
The condition was under 50%, which is not what you want to see on Interloper, but it still counts as โ€œfire insurance.โ€

Still no magnifying glass, though. Of course.
The game will happily give me the tool I can break, but not the one that turns sunlight into free survival.

Accidental Navigation and the Lookout Plan

Then I did something stupid: I headed off without a path in mind.
No plan, no route, just vibes and cold air.

But once I spotted the Forestry Lookout, my brain finally clicked into place.
Iโ€™ve been there on other Mystery Lake visits, so at least this was a stupid decision with a familiar destination.

On the way, I spotted ptarmigans.
My rock-throwing aim remains consistently impressive in the worst way: I missed by miles, spooked them, and watched them fly off like theyโ€™d just attended my personal comedy show.

Forestry Lookout: Warmth, Mapping, and a Skillet

The lookout gave me a cooking skillet, which immediately made it feel like Iโ€™d walked into a luxury apartment.
It was also warm inside, but I could still use charcoal.

Thatโ€™s the sweet spot: shelter, warmth, and the ability to map.
I scouted, updated the area, and let myself pretend I was in control for a few minutes.

The Crashed Plane: A Great Idea That Hurt Immediately

From the lookout, I spotted a crashed plane.
And I immediately had that survival-gremlin thought: โ€œThereโ€™s definitely something useful in there.โ€

Only problem: I had absolutely no clue how I was meant to reach it.
I tried a few different approaches, each one worse than the last.

I ended up in pain and tearing my clothes, which is exactly the kind of price Interloper charges for curiosity.
With night coming in, I accepted reality and retreated back to the lookout before I turned a bad climb into a body recovery mission.

Night Prep and the Suspicious Lack of Teeth

Back at the lookout, I prepped like a responsible adult survivor: cooked what I could, repaired what I could, and tried to patch up the damage caused by my brief aviation obsession.

And then it hit me.
I donโ€™t think I saw a single predator today.

Which means theyโ€™re either:

  • all stuck behind a rock somewhere, or
  • having a meeting to decide who gets to be the first one to ruin my week.

Iโ€™m betting on the meeting.
Interloper loves a coordinated effort.

Video Log

Continue the journey:
Unprepared Log 9 |
Unprepared Log 11

Stranded: A Minecraft Survival Diary โ€“ Log 1: Sheep, Skeletons, and a 3ร—3 Start

Stranded โ€“ Log 1: Sheep, Skeletons, and a 3ร—3 Start

Game: Minecraft
Platform: Steam Deck
Mode: Survival
Difficulty: Hard

I spawn in a wooded area, right next to sheep. That immediately solves one very important problem.

A bed.

All I need is three pieces of wool of the same colour. Minecraft is very picky about that.

I punch a tree, grab enough wood to get started, and craft a table so I can make a wooden axe and pickaxe. When I turn back, the sheep have vanished.

Of course they have.

It takes longer than Iโ€™d like, but eventually I track down three sheep of the same colour. Three sheep later, I have enough wool for a bed.

That alone changes everything. Being able to skip nights means I donโ€™t have to deal with monsters until I decide Iโ€™m ready.

Video Log

Full no-commentary gameplay for this log is available below.

Big Ideas, Bad Timing

With the bed sorted, my thoughts immediately jump ahead.

I want a base of operations. Somewhere I can sleep, store things, and eventually start a farm. From there, I can mine properly instead of poking holes in the ground and hoping for the best.

I wander into a nearby cave. Not deep โ€” maybe ten or twenty blocks.

I see a skeleton.

The skeleton sees me.

An arrow hits me almost immediately, followed by another. Hard difficulty is not interested in easing me in.

Iโ€™m not equipped for this, and Iโ€™m not throwing the run away on day one.

I run.

Ignoring the Lesson

A little later, I try again.

This time, itโ€™s because I spot coal. Torches would be useful, and optimism briefly wins out over common sense.

The skeleton is still there. It now has a creeper for company.

At this point, even I take the hint.

I cut my losses and leave the cave alone.

Some problems are better solved later.

Surface Coal and a Nightโ€™s Rest

Itโ€™s not all bad.

Across the water, I spot coal exposed on the surface. A decent amount of it, too.

No skeletons. No creepers. No arrows flying out of the dark.

Itโ€™s getting late, so I carve out a small alcove, place my bed, and sleep.

Day one ends without disaster, which feels like an achievement in itself.

Day Two: Follow the Water

I wake up with no real plan.

Rather than force one, I decide to see where the water leads.

I start swimming, then remember boats exist and immediately regret not thinking of that sooner.

I make a boat and quickly realise itโ€™s going to take some practice to steer properly.

Still, it does the job.

After a bit of travel, I find a flat area right next to the water. Trees nearby. Sand close enough to grab.

This feels like somewhere I could actually stay.

A House, Barely

I gather wood, grass, and some sand. I want windows eventually, even if they donโ€™t happen today.

I also start nudging the water around slightly, laying the groundwork for a future wheat farm.

For now, though, the priority is simple.

I build a small 3ร—3 structure out of wooden planks. No windows. No decoration.

But it has a door.

That alone means I can come and go without breaking blocks every time, which already feels like progress.

Itโ€™s not much, but itโ€™s mine.

Ending the Day

During my wandering, Iโ€™ve picked up some meat and a bit of copper ore.

I craft a furnace, cook the meat, and leave the copper smelting while I sleep.

Iโ€™ve no idea what day three will bring.

But I have a bed, a door, food sorted, and a place I can stand still without worrying.

On Hard difficulty, thatโ€™s more than enough for now.

Continue the Journey

Next entry:
Log 2 โ€” Bridges, Wheat, and Future Problems

Cold-Blooded: A Skyrim Survival Diary โ€“ Log 2: Bleak Falls and Poor Attitudes

Cold-Blooded โ€“ Log 2: Bleak Falls and Poor Attitudes

Game: Skyrim Special Edition
Mode: Survival Mode
Difficulty: Adept
Survivor: Treads-Through-Cold (Argonian)

Bleak Falls Barrow doesnโ€™t rush you. The cold does.

Bleak Falls Barrow was the agenda for the day. I equipped the fur armour Iโ€™d picked up earlier and prepared for the climb.

I also made heavy use of Clairvoyance. Not because itโ€™s elegant, but because I know Iโ€™ll get lost without it.

The cold took longer than expected to become a problem, which gave me time to deal with bandits along the road. Somewhere during this, I realised I could cast both equipped spells at once.

The urge to channel my inner Emperor Palpatine was strong.

I compromised.

Sparks in one hand. Flames in the other.

Entering the Barrow

I reached Bleak Falls Barrow and overheard a conversation involving Arvel the Swift. That answered the question of who had the claw.

Inside, I moved carefully. One bandit required preparation, so I cast Oakflesh.

They immediately pulled a lever and solved the problem themselves.

I examined the room, recognised a puzzle, solved it without incident, and continued.

Arvel the Swift, Briefly

I found Arvel stuck in a web, guarded by a giant spider. The spider nearly ended the run, but I survived long enough to win.

Arvel asked to be cut down.

I didnโ€™t like his tone.

I killed him, took the claw, and read his journal. It confirmed this place had more going on than a simple fetch job.

Before leaving, I reanimated his corpse.

Not for strategy. For amusement.

He fought some draugr. They were not impressed.

Traps and Helpful Enemies

Further in, I encountered pressure plates that triggered spike traps.

I avoided them.

Draugr and my temporary undead companion did not.

This happened more than once.

Words of Power and Bad Timing

At the end of the barrow, I learned part of Unrelenting Force.

The Restless Draugr sleeping nearby demonstrated it immediately.

I attempted to use a Scroll of Harmony. In theory, this should have worked.

It didnโ€™t.

Riverwood and Necessary Spending

I returned to the Riverwood Trader, handed over the claw, and proceeded to spend most of my remaining wealth.

He had Novice Robes of Destruction.

I sold a significant amount of gear, did some uncomfortable mental maths, and bought them anyway.

Worth it.

Nightfall and a Sensible End

I returned to Hadvarโ€™s uncleโ€™s place and called it a night.

Tomorrow, I head for Whiterun.

Progress Update

  • Levels gained: +3 (between logs)
  • Attributes: +2 Health, +1 Magicka
  • Perks:
    • Novice Restoration
    • Novice Alteration
    • Dual Casting (Destruction)

Video Log

No commentary gameplay:

Log 2 Survival Notes

  • Clairvoyance saves time and mistakes.
  • Let enemies trigger traps when possible.
  • Dual casting changes early combat dramatically.
  • Some scrolls lie.
Continue the journey:
Cold-Blooded โ€“ Log 1: Survival Starts After Helgen |
Cold-Blooded โ€“ Log 3: Gold Problems and an Unwanted Destiny

Super Mario 64 Randomizer โ€“ Log 11: Red Coins, Bad Maths, and Tactical Death

Progress: Snowmanโ€™s Land Cleared
Platform: Steam Deck
Settings: Vanilla Mario & Music

โ€œSometimes the problem isnโ€™t finding the star. Itโ€™s reaching it once you do.โ€

With two stars left in Snowmanโ€™s Land, my first question is simple: where are the red coins?

Iโ€™d like to confidently say none of them are inside the igloo. I cannot say that with confidence.

At the same time, I decide to roll the Red Coin Star and the 100-Coin Star into one attempt. This is an old habit from vanilla Super Mario 64. It usually saves time.

Coin Counting in a Frozen Economy

Finding the red coins isnโ€™t the hard part. The real issue becomes obvious very quickly: where do 100 coins come from in this course?

The answer is the igloo.

I head inside and clear out every coin I can find. Outside, I mop up enemies wherever possible. Eventually, the numbers add up and the 100-Coin Star appears.

Thatโ€™s when problem number three shows up.

The red coin star is there. I can see it. I just canโ€™t reach it.

Everything Except Shouting at the Screen

I try:

  • Standard jumps
  • Awkward camera angles
  • The cannon

Nothing works.

Eventually, it clicks. This star wants a Koopa Shell.

Thereโ€™s just one issue: I already used the shell earlier in the run.

Rather than exit the course, I take a deliberate death. Itโ€™s faster, and at this point, efficiency matters more than pride.

The Shell Gamble

One more trip into Snowmanโ€™s Land.

I head straight for the box I hope contains the Koopa Shell. Thereโ€™s no guarantee. The seed could absolutely ruin me here.

Thankfully, the shell is exactly where it should be.

I slow everything down. No risks. No clever movement. Just controlled progress.

The shell does its job. The red coin star is collected.

Snowmanโ€™s Land is finished.

Next Move: Chasing Familiar Ground

With the course cleared, I make a mental note for the next castle visit.

I want to head toward where Snowmanโ€™s Land normally sits in vanilla Mario 64. At this point, Iโ€™m nearly halfway through the star count, and momentum matters.

This seed hasnโ€™t been kind, but it has been fair. I want to keep that balance on my side.

YouTube โ€“ Log 11 Video

One shell, one reset, and one course fully crossed off the list.

Log 11 Summary

Course Snowmanโ€™s Land
Stars Cleared 7 / 7
100-Coin Star Collected
Red Coin Star Collected (with shell)
Tactical Deaths 1 (on purpose)
Next Objective Follow vanilla paths, keep momentum

Sometimes progress means knowing when to reset instead of forcing a bad situation.

Continue the Journey

Previous Log | Next Log

Super Mario 64 Randomizer Hub

Game: Super Mario 64

A Quiet, Comfortable Day

Describe your most ideal day from beginning to end.

My ideal day is simple.

A slow morning, no alarms, decent coffee. A bit of writing or tinkering with the blog while things are quiet. Some time spent actually playing a game, not rushing it, not recording just for the sake of it.

Family time in the afternoon, food that doesnโ€™t require too much thinking, and an evening where I can sit down, unwind, and maybe survive one more in-game day without everything going catastrophically wrong.

Nothing dramatic. Just calm, comfort, and enough energy left at the end of the day to enjoy it.

Survivorโ€™s Log: Two in the Pipeline

Survivorโ€™s Log: Two in the Pipeline

This is another short pipeline note rather than an announcement. Just a record of whatโ€™s coming next and why.

There are two games lined up, both relatively contained, and both chosen because they fit the kind of survival experiences I want to document right now.

Slender: The Arrival

The first is Slender: The Arrival.

I originally played it when it first released. Since then, itโ€™s received a 10th Anniversary update that effectively rebuilds the experience and introduces new content, including an additional location.

Because of that reset, this isnโ€™t a nostalgia run. Itโ€™s closer to approaching a familiar idea in a form thatโ€™s changed enough to warrant a fresh look.

This will sit under Survivorโ€™s Dread, recorded as a single-attempt run, with the logs reflecting how the attempt unfolds rather than aiming for a specific outcome.

Iron Lung

The second is Iron Lung.

Interest around it has increased recently because of the upcoming film adaptation, which is what initially put it on my radar.

What actually held my attention was hearing how personal the project was, and how much of the atmosphere and intent came directly from the game itself.

Iโ€™ve been aware of the creator behind the adaptation for a while, but Iโ€™ve never followed their content directly. What stood out wasnโ€™t who was making the film, but the decision to make a film at all.

Choosing to adapt a small, largely unknown game suggested there was something specific in the source material that made it worth that level of commitment.

That curiosity is what led me here โ€” to the game itself, rather than the adaptation built around it.

This will be treated as a one-off survival horror run. A single attempt, recorded without embellishment, documenting the experience as it unfolds.

Nothing Locked In

There are no dates attached to either of these yet. Theyโ€™ll be recorded and published when thereโ€™s space, rather than being slotted in to chase relevance.

As always, the point isnโ€™t to follow momentum elsewhere. Itโ€™s to document things that feel worth documenting at the time.

Surviving, Not Suffering

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑